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Russian River & Redwood Country
The best of California
When you turn left off Highway 101 at River Road just above Santa
Rosa, you are effectively entering the Russian River region. You'll
notice rolling vineyards under mature trees and, as you distance
yourself from the freeway, you will notice that the shadows change.
You are entering Redwood country. This is where you will see the
mist clinging to the river evaporating into shafts of golden morning
light. This is where you will experience a different type of hospitality
with gracious people who want to welcome you into their hearts.
The Russian River area, long known for its serene natural beauty,
is rapidly growing in its acclaim and importance in the local wine
industry. Tasting rooms, tours and good restaurants are abundant.
There are countless recreation adventures to be had among the valleys,
canyons and riverbanks all the way to the coast along River Road
and Highway 116.
The Russian River itself connects Hwy 101 to the coast. It follows
the road the whole way out, so you are never more than a few hundred
yards from the gentle flow. This trek is the shortest, yet most
stunning traverse from 'inland' to the Pacific Ocean.
On your journey you'll pass through the charming hamlets of Forestville,
Rio Nido, Guerneville, Monte Rio, Duncans Mills and Jenner. Flanking
Hwy 116 tucked away in the Austin Creek watershed is the rustic
town of Cazadero and just south on the Bohemian Highway are Camp
Meeker, Occidental and Freestone.
All of these little towns offer a unique variety of lodging, dining,
spa, entertainment and recreational options, all of which feature
fresh, clean air and unspoiled natural vistas no matter which direction
you gaze. And there's the wine…
Beauty and nature abound. Once you get out of the car you can kayak,
golf, hike, ride a horse, soar in a balloon, bike the forest floor
and dance the night away. You can tide-pool, surf, swim, canoe,
fish, dive, take in a local play, or sit at night before a bonfire.
Chose from a variety of riverside resorts, historic lodges, rustic
cabins, modern campgrounds and bed & breakfast inns. Exhilarating
yet peaceful, diverse and exciting, never far away and comfortably
affordable - this is the Russian River Valley!
The Sonoma Coast
Here the irresistible pounding of the ocean surges against the
vast immovable continent. Nowhere will you find more drama than
on the wild Sonoma Coast. With seventy-six miles of inviting sandy
beaches and secret coves, there are limitless places where you can
find many wonders.
Explore the myriad of life forms in the tide pools, build sand-castles,
coax your kite into the windcurrents, or watch the red-billed oystercatchers
hunt for lunch on the wave-splashed crags. Collect driftwood and
shells. Eat fresh crab, snapper and salmon at the Bodega wharf watching
the moored trawlers, gulls and pelicans, or play 18 holes of golf
oceanside against the backdrop of a fuschia sunset.
Where the Russian River meets the sea, Jenner overlooks Goat Rock
Beach with harbor seals piled up on the sandy bar soaking up the
sun. North of Jenner, Salt point is famous for its abalone diving.
Up the coast, the restored 19th century Fort Ross sets the local
history on stage with the story of the namesake Russian settlers.
The Russian River Chamber of Commerce’s
Eco-Tourism & Adventure Program
Officially being launched on Tuesday, August 3rd at 6 p.m. at a
Gala in Armstrong Woods is, at its heart, an economic recovery strategy
for West Sonoma County.
Eco-Tourism is rapidly growing to be one of the biggest trends
in leisure travel, shifting the focus from "contraption-based"
destinations, such as Disneyland, Squaw Valley or Las Vegas, to
adventures in nature.
Eco-Tourism in a nutshell: environmentally responsible travel and
visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas in order to enjoy,
study and appreciate nature and any accompanying cultural features
that promote conservation.
The Russian River area sits in the middle of the region's watershed.
The valleys, views, indigenous species of plant and animal, flowing
streams and river, towering forests of redwoods and crashing waves
upon sandy beaches all make up an environmentally exciting place
to visit and enjoy. Taking tourism one-step farther from the paved
road and one step closer to the natural wilderness is the focus
of the Eco-Tourism & Adventure Program.
Nature is the only stage upon which year-round entertainment is
performed. We all know how wonderful it is to spend a summer Sunday
at the Russian River, but what about the drama of February's whale
parade? How about the incredible incense smell of the forest in
Indian Summer? Learning about the area and all the life that teams
within it leaves the visitor with a more satisfying, longer-lasting
sense of escape.
The Eco-Tourism & Adventure Program has three basic parts:
Marketing, broadened adventure options and environmental education.
Within these are mechanisms to help the local businesses stabilize
and also to adopt more 'green' practices. Within the program is
a concept called the "Eco-Ring," a movement within which
all of the community can participate in making the region as harmonious
as possible with its natural surroundings through partnerships between
residents, merchants, visitors and wildlife.
The Eco-Tourism & Adventure Program's partners and architects
are the Russian River Chamber of Commerce, the Stewards of the Coast
and Redwoods and the Booking Center.
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